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Air impact wrench vs cordless impact wrench

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her209

her209

No Lifer
I own three cordless impact wrenches (a 3/8" drive with hog ring and two 1/2" drive with detent pin) but my reasons for owning are:

1) portability: I can take it with me without having to bring the air compressor along
2) cordless: no worry about if the hose will reach, etc.

I do own an air compressor (7-gallon tank), but I haven't even unboxed it. My only reason for buying it was for minor jobs such adding air to tires, blowing water, dust, and dirt from dirty parts, etc.

Any reason why I should add air tools to the tool arsenal?
 
Cordless is nice and definitely a plus if you don't have room for a large air compressor. (Or you need to be mobile)

In my experience, air tools are cheaper. Buying an air compressor doesn't mean you just use it for a impact gun either. You use it for a lot of different attachments...
 
If you have a compressor that can power them, air tools work much better than the portable electrics that I've tried.

That said, if you haven't run into anything that the cordless tools can't handle, then there really isn't any need to get into the air tool game.

ZV
 
I use both. For mainly outside the car, I used my impact with air hose in either 3/8 or 1/2 inch. For interior, I use my 1/4 inch cordless as it gets into the small area better, I don't need as much torque, and mainly, I don't have to drag a dirty air hose through a customers car. Cordless does not have as much torque when you really need it. I use a Monster Impact but also have a 3/4 impact for those really stubborn rusted chassis bolts that no cordless impact would come close at ever removing. Professionals will use the benefit of all types of impacts, both cordless and not.
 
I have an Ingersoll Rand W7150. 780 ft-lbs with 1100 ft-lbs of nut busting. I debated air vs cordless, but I go to track days a lot and wanted something portable. It also seemed like the equivalent level of air impacts needed HUGE like ~20 gal compressors.
 
cbrsurfr said:
I have an Ingersoll Rand W7150. 780 ft-lbs with 1100 ft-lbs of nut busting. I debated air vs cordless, but I go to track days a lot and wanted something portable. It also seemed like the equivalent level of air impacts needed HUGE like ~20 gal compressors.
Click to expand...

It's not tank size, it's CFM.

Ingersoll Rand has a 4-gallon portable that will flow 4.3 CFM @ 90 PSI which is enough to run up to around 800 ft-lb impact wrenches. They also have an 8-gallon portable that will flow 11.3 CFM which is more than enough to run anything out there.

Similarly, Bosch has a 4-gallon portable that will flow 4.9 CFM @ 100 PSI.

These are contractor-grade compressors though and most of what the average person will find at Home Depot or Lowes isn't going to match those flow rates unless it's a stationary compressor. And don't even get me started on that "oil-less" junk people buy...

ZV
 
I got my Makita 1/2" cordless impact because I was renting at the time and I had no room for a compressor.

I've been pleasantly surprised with it.
 
If you can swing it, try the snap-on 18v cordless impact. It's quiet and delivers 600 ft-lb no problem.

I also have a compressor but only use it to inflate tires/balloon or getting dust of things. Air tools are nice but not really practical for home use.

Working on cars is a way for me to release stress. I usually work on car very early on the weekend (try to finish up before my kids get up) or late at night (after the kids go to bed) so low noise is my #1 priority. That means electric impact and air impact are out. snap-on cordless is quiet enough but I use a torque multiplier more often (check out the X-4).

I also have an Ingersol impact ratchet (which is rather quiet). It's good up to around 100 ft-lbs or so.
 
I have a cordless but it can only generate around 100ft/lb and I only use it on my cars when I am rotating tires.
 
cbrsurfr said:
I have an Ingersoll Rand W7150. 780 ft-lbs with 1100 ft-lbs of nut busting. I debated air vs cordless, but I go to track days a lot and wanted something portable. It also seemed like the equivalent level of air impacts needed HUGE like ~20 gal compressors.
Click to expand...

I also have the W7150 and it's good for the really hard to bust stuff. I also have a Ryobi one that goes with there 18V line and is enough for most wheel lugs and with lower torque is less likely to over torque when you put the wheels back on.

When I rotate my tires I'll use either to take the wheels off but the Ryobi is preferred for putting them on. I like to use a torque wrench for final torquing.


Brian
 
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